Introduction

When I was working on the N64 part of my NES/SNES/N64 to wiimote project, in order to make sure the N64 controller buttons were doing what they originally did on the N64, I had to implement several button mappings. Since I couldn't find this information on the net, I decided to create this small page and post screenshots of the button mapping page for each game.

This page is by far incomplete. A lot of games are still missing. If you own virtual console titles that are not part of those presented below, I would be thankful if you could send me a screenshot which I would add here, and implement a new buton mapping if needed.

N64 Games

The classic controller and N64 controller are quite different so almost all games seem to get a specific buttton mapping...

Many thanks to those who sent me additional pictures!

SNES Games

Given that both the original SNES controllers and the classic controller are equiped with equivalently placed and labelled buttons, not much needs to be changed. In fact, I am not aware of any Virtual Console SNES games requiring a special mapping.

If you know of any exceptions, please let me know!

Playing SNES games with a Gamecube controller is however very awkward unless the adapter has a mapping where gamecube buttons A,B,X and Y are repectively mapped to the classic controller B,Y,A and X. This is good for at least Super Mario World...

NES Games

The D-Pad and Start/Select buttons are at the right places. But the B and A buttons, even though they are laid out in the same left to right order, are slanted in a way that makes them feel unnatural to use.

Take the Super Mario Bros NES game for instance. B is used to run and A to jump. But try pressing A and B at the same time on a classic controller! You need a hell of a big thumb for it to feel comfortable.

On the SNES, Super Mario World used Y to run and B to jump. This is how almost everyone is used to control mario. And guess what, they understood this when they published Mario All Stars at the SNES. Y = Run, B = Jump. So why not this time?

Ok, maybe they really wanted us to use the wiimote directly as the controller. But in any case, the above has motivated the inclusion of a NES mode mapping to my NES/SNES/N64 to wiimote controller project and also to my similar NES/SNES/N64 to Gamecube/Wii where the natural mapping of SNES Y to NES B and SNES B to NES A is done.

Genesis/Megadrive Games

The same mapping seems to be shared by all Genesis games. The 6 Button mapping is compatible with the 3 Button mapping. Nothing complicated. Here is a table summarizing everything:

Genesis button	Classic controller button	Type of controller
D-Pad	D-Pad	All
Start	Plus	All
A	Y	All
B	B	All
C	A	All
X	L	6 Button
Y	X	6 Button
Z	R	6 Button
Mode	Zr	6 Button

^(*) 3 Button mapping confirmed in Alien Soldier, Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic Spinball, Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic 3D Blast, Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, and Vectorman

Sega Master System

Sega master system games also appear to have been given a constant mapping.

SMS button	Classic controller button
D-Pad	D-Pad
Pause	Plus
Rapid	Zl
1	B
2	A/Y
1 Turbo	L
2 Turbo	R